A previously unknown species of Ice Age spadefoot toad has been identified from fossils excavated at California's famous La Brea Tar Pits, making it only the second extinct Ice Age amphibian ever discovered in North America. Tiny fossils reveal a new Ice Age speciesThe discovery began when lead author Dr. J. Alberto Cruz reviewed the La Brea Tar Pits' largely unstudied amphibian and reptile collection. "It's a great example of how we're still finding new things at La Brea Tar Pits, even after a century of ongoing excavation and research," Lindsey said. The sticky asphalt at La Brea Tar Pits preserved these delicate bones by protecting them from decay, scavengers, and weathering, making the site one of the few places where such discoveries are possible. "It is surprising that relatively few frog fossils have been previously recovered from La Brea, and I'm confident more will turn up."